Because people don't realise that those with autism have feelings too and having autism doesn't mean you are not worthy of the same rights and respect as anyone else. Don't forget 1% and rising. It could be your child, your relative, your friend.

Last week, I posted a simple question on Facebook and Twitter. I said: I'm working on an article and need your help . . . what are the most annoying things NT people say or do about or to folks on the spectrum? My average Facebook post gets maybe 20, 25 comments. Over the space of four days, this one generated over 600 responses. Clearly, it touched a nerve. There were a lot more annoyed people out there than I imagined! I decided to sort the replies; to see if there was a pattern. Indeed there was. It turns out there are three kinds of aggravating remarks, all of which point to one conclusion, which I'll reveal in a moment . . . First, there were those who felt autistics did not deserve any services or special consideration. Some said, “its because you are all retarded.” Others said the opposite; “you don’t need help because you’re too smart already.” I could understand how someone would get pretty angry, hearing that about themselves, their kid, or their brother…Read More